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FOPO Committee Meeting

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Minutes of Proceedings

44th Parliament, 1st Session
Meeting 98
Tuesday, February 13, 2024, 3:29 p.m. to 5:29 p.m.
Webcast
Presiding
Ken McDonald, Chair (Liberal)

Library of Parliament
• Natacha Kramski, Analyst
• Marlisa Tiedemann, Analyst
The committee proceeded to the consideration of matters related to committee business.

Motion

Serge Cormier moved, — That the committee proceed to the consideration of the motion of Serge Cormier moved on Thursday, February 8, 2024.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Lisa Marie Barron, Serge Cormier, Caroline Desbiens, Brendan Hanley, Ken Hardie, Mike Kelloway, Robert J. Morrissey — 7;

NAYS: Mel Arnold, Rick Perkins, Clifford Small, Fraser Tolmie — 4.

The committee resumed consideration of the motion of Serge cormier moved on Thursday, February 8, 2024 which read as follows:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a five-meeting study on the need for training and financial support for the next generation of fishers given the challenges they face entering into the field given the high cost of licenses and equipment and that the committee report its findings and recommendations to the House; that witnesses include young fish harvesters and aspiring young fish harvesters; that witnesses include representatives from the fish harvesting industry and fish harvester unions; that witnesses come from a wide variety of regional and linguistic backgrounds, including indigenous representation; and that, pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee asks that the government provide a comprehensive response to its report.

The debate continued.

Amendment

Robert J. Morrissey moved, — That the motion be amended by adding the words “that the committee commence this study immediately after the conclusion of the committee's study on the five-year review of the Fishery Act;” after the words “including indigenous representation;”.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Robert J. Morrissey and it was agreed to.

After debate, the question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a five-meeting study on the need for training and financial support for the next generation of fishers given the challenges they face entering into the field given the high cost of licenses and equipment and that the committee report its findings and recommendations to the House; that witnesses include young fish harvesters and aspiring young fish harvesters; that witnesses include representatives from the fish harvesting industry and fish harvester unions; that witnesses come from a wide variety of regional and linguistic backgrounds, including indigenous representation; that the committee commence this study immediately after the conclusion of the committee's study on the five-year review of the Fishery Act; and that, pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee asks that the government provide a comprehensive response to its report.

Department of Fisheries and Oceans
• Annette Gibbons, Deputy Minister
• Adam Burns, Assistant Deputy Minister, Programs Sector
• Brent Napier, Acting Director General, Conservation and Protection
• Doug Wentzell, Regional Director General, Maritimes Region
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the committee on Thursday, February 8, 2024, the committee commenced its study of the plans to prevent violence during the 2024 elver fishing season.

Annette Gibbons made a statement and, with Doug Wentzell, Adam Burns and Brent Napier, answered questions.

Caroline Desbiens gave notice of the following motion:

That, in accordance with Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a study of the scales used by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) to set redfish quotas, in particular those announced by the Minister on Friday, January 26, 2024, in order to assess the extent of their effects on the shrimp fishing industry; that the committee allocate at least two meetings to conduct this study; that the Tuesday, February 27, 2024, meeting be allocated to hear from the Minister and senior DFO officials so they can answer the committee’s questions for two hours, and that the Thursday, February 29, 2024, meeting be allocated to hear from any witnesses the committee deems necessary; and that the committee report its findings and recommendations to the House.

Questioning of the witnesses resumed.

At 5:29 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.



Geneviève Dubois-Richard
Clerk of the committee